Meet the Author

The FermentedlyChallenged blog has been retired since the end of October 2016. It has been a great 9 year run. Thanks to all the readers and brewery staff for all your support in the past. I'm living in the Denver metro area and working in the Cable TV industry now. Cheers and enjoy beer responsibly. Follow along on social media - @ChipperDave on Twitter and on Facebook.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Today is National High Five Day. Every third Thursday of April is designated as a day to go out and give High Fives to as many people as you can. Did someone do you a favor? Like something that someone did? Give 'em a High Five! If you happen to visit a brewery or beer bar today, be sure to give your favorite brewer or server a high five today. Here's what's happening around the Colorado beerosphere today Thursday, April 18th, 2013.

Metro Denver

Big Choice Brewing (Broomfield) - Big Choice is celebrating their 1st Anniversary and they're throw a celebration so big that they had to split it up into two days and two locations. On Saturday May 4th, they'll be holding a party at The Old Man Bar (4381 W. 120th Ave in Broomfield) from 11am to 10pm. There will be limited seasonal releases available including: Malleus Malificarum Belgian Quad, Proletariat Porter, Starry Night Cascadian Dark, Apre Shred Winter Ale, City Star colloaboration Blonde Rye Ale and more! Then on Sunday May 5th over at the Big Choice taproom they'll be rockin' again from 11am to 6pm with continued limited seasonal releases, great food trucks, a family movie, fun activities for the whole family, brewery tours and more. Great giveaways available each day. Don't miss this event!

Vine Street Pub & Brewery (Denver) - This Saturday, April 20th at 4:20pm, Vine Street is celebrating their 5th year anniversary! There will be free live music from the By All Means Band. There will be a new beer released at 4:20pm - Bohemian Pilsner. They'll also be firing up the outdoor grills and serving up a big BBQ menu to boot. Come hungry and thirsty! Station 26 Brewing Company (Denver) - Get ready Denver for another brewery coming this Fall 2013. It's to be called Station 26 Brewing Company and will be located in the old Denver Fire Department Station 26 building at 7045 E. 38th Avenue in Denver, CO. (Just off I-70 and Quebec) - More information will be coming out on this soon once the owner has further updates.

Hops & Pie (Denver) - Here's some new tappings that you'll want to stop in for: Chateau Jiahu by DogFish Head, 2013 Russian Imperial Espresso Stout by Stone Brewing, The Bollock by Brash Brewing, and Hop Devil by Victory Brewing. Pair it with a slice or some soup today.

Oskar Blues (Longmont) - The Oskar Blues family of businesses just got bigger last week. Their new CHUBurger restaurant opened in Longmont offering up a new twist on craft casual burgers and beers. Their food features farm fresh ingredients from their Hops & Heifers Farm and delicious craft beers not only from Oskar Blues, but other craft breweries in the area. Check them out online at: www.CHUBurger.com. Also, Oskar Blues and 30 other breweries will be on-hand at the Front Range Rally beer and food truck festival in Loveland on Saturday, May 18th from 3pm to 7pm. Visit: frontrangerally.org for tickets and details.

Burning CAN Beer Fest (Lyons) - Save the date for Saturday, June 1st! It's one of the most unique beer festivals in Colorado. Come out to beautiful Lyons, ColoRADo to enjoy samples from 30+ canning craft breweries from around the country, watch and participate in a variety of outdoor sports, listen to live music and soak up the Rocky Mountain revelry - entertainment for your ears, eyes and mouth! Details at: www.burningcan.com. More best festival events can be found using the 2013 Colorado Beer Festival listings.

Under The Sun Eatery & Taphouse (Boulder) - Want to earn a free pitcher of craft beer? Under the Sun is running an online survey in an attempt to continually improve on what they do. Complete a short survey and they'll buy you a pitcher of house ale at Under the Sun. Visit: www.surveymonkey.com/s/underthesunsurvey

Mountain Sun (Boulder) - There will be several seasonal brews coming out over the next several weeks at the Mountain Sun chain of brewpubs and eateries. Look for these brews to hit the taps soon: Bohemian Pilsner, El Chupacabra Imperial Mexican Lager, Prime Time Pilsner, Boulde English Malt Liquor, Vagabond American-style IPA, Capital City Saison, Catburgler American-Belgo India Black Ale, and Big Krane Kolsch-Style Ale. Spring beer drinking is going to be tasty at the Mountain Sun locations!

Front Range Brewing Company (Lafayette) - Progress! FRBC just received their federal TTB approval today. Just one of many big checkpoints completed towards opening a brewery in Lafayette.

Boulder Beer Company (Boulder) - Need plans for 4/20? How about heading to Boulder Beer Company's The Pub at 2880 Wilderness Place for the Kinda Bluegrass Festival 2013. There will be 4 kinds of Kinda Blue beer on tap plus live music from Chris Thompson and Friends as well as Caribou Mountain Collective from 12pm to 7pm. There will also be a 4:20pm tapping of Shakenbake Rye IPA.

Microbreweries for the Environment (Boulder) - This Friday, April 19th from 8pm to 1am at the Boulder Theater it's the 21st annual Microbreweries for the Environment event. Since 1993, the Microbreweries for the Environment benefit has raised nearly $145,000 for local environmental causes. The proceeds from this year's benefit will further the environmental initiatives of five local non-profit organizations: CU Environmental Center, Nederland Compost and Recycling Recovery, Cottonwood Institute, Growe Foundation, and Bicycle Longmont. Twenty Colorado microbreweries serve their best beers for only $2/pint. Admission includes a commemorative pint glass. Participants can opt to purchase a sampler glass for $12 to partake in unlimited tastings. Juno What?! is the evening's featured entertainment playing electro-funk and high-energy disco jams. They encourage people to walk, bike, or bus to the event. Doors open and beer tasting starts at 8:00pm, and the opening band (tba) starts up at 8:30pm. Tickets are available at the Boulder Theater Box Office (303-786-7030 or www.bouldertheater.com).

Northern Colorado

High Hops Brewery (Windsor) - IPA lovers will want to stop in starting on Friday, April 19th for the release of Dr. Pat's #5 - it's the 5th incarnation of this legendary IPA series. This batch was dry-hopped with Sorachi Ace hops and gives this beer a distinctive lemon / citrus nose and flavor. Live music this weekend from Joel Kachel - Friday 6-8pm and from Sharon Glassman & Grant McIntosh on Saturday from 5-7pm. Also, the new expanded High Hops outdoor patio is opening on Saturday, April 27th! There will be a musical showcase starting at 3pm featuring local talent that day.

The Taste (Ft. Collins) - Tomorrow, April 18th from 5pm to 9pm in the Hilton Fort Collins, come join in at The Taste as they celebrate their 20th anniversary of food, beers and spirits. This is one of several benefit events this year to help the Food Bank of Larimer County fight hunger in the area. Beers from 7 local breweries, and over a dozen other wine and distiller's beverages will be available along with food from nearly 30 local restaurants to tempt your taste buds. More info at: www.tastebenefit.org.

Black Bottle Brewing (Ft. Collins) - Owner Sean wants you to know that their Kentucky Waterfall, a 6.1% ABV 21 IBU Belgian Blonde ale is now on tap at Black Bottle Brewing. It's all business in the front and a party on the backside. Plan on trying some soon.

Funkwerks (Ft. Collins) - There are two cellar releases today at Funkwerks: Montagne and Mistral! Montagne is a saison fermented with a blend of yeasts and spiced with ginger and orange zest. Mistral is a Belgian-style ale that used Niwot-grown Crystal and Cascade hops in a hop-back after the boil. Both are available for $12 in the taproom only.

Pateros Creek Brewing (Ft. Collins) - It's Thursday and that means another unique beer on the Outlaw tap. Today it's Outlander - an extra pale ale aged with apple wood. A summery brew that's perfect even on a cold day like today. On tap for a limited time so get some asap.

Tommyknocker Brewery (Idaho Springs) - It's Saison season at Tommyknocker! And they've released their Nice Saison Seasonal Ale today. It's a 5.5% ABV 15 IBU bright golden brew with a slightly tart taste and spicy aroma and bittered with Sterling hops. Available on draft or in 6-packs.

Horsefly Brewery (Montrose) - It's Community Tap Night! Stop in tonight for a special fundraiser to help fund the Montrose High School Senior Class year end event. Horsefly Brewery will donate $1 from every pint sold tonight to those kids. The fundraiser starts at 6:00pm til close.
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Live Music - Beer and music go great together and many Colorado breweries and watering holes offer live entertainment every day. Check out the Colorado Brewery Music Listings and find who's playing at your favorite brewery or beer bar. Updated daily.

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